Quilpie, Queensland

Quilpie is a small town with 560 inhabitants in the south of the Australian state of Queensland. It is located in the outback about 950 kilometers west of Brisbane and 350 kilometers south of Longreach on the Diamantina Developmental Road. It is the administrative headquarters of the administrative area ( LGA) Quilpie Shire. It is believed that the word Quilpie in the language of the Aborigines called the bird stone curlew.

The main economic activities in this region are cattle raising, and mining, with one of the largest opal deposits in the world. But natural gas and petroleum are promoted here.

History

The area on the banks of Bulloo River was first settled in the 1860s by European farmers, but only in 1917, with the construction of the railway line from Charleville, the town was founded and Quilpie was the westernmost bridge head of sheep and wool industry.

Soon after came a school (1918 ) and a hospital (1922 ) and the city was filled with shops, commercial center for farmers.

Climate

Quilpie has a semi- arid climate ( Effective climate classification BSh ), with hot summers and spring-like winters.